30 Minute Chicken Pastina Soup with Acini de Pepe
Quick and easy chicken soup in 30 minutes? You betchya! Spoon up some chicken pastina soup and experience why it's nicknamed Italian penicillin —it will definitely cure the winter blues! Made with easy-to-find acini de pepe pasta instead of the now discontinued pastina, this Italian chicken soup recipe will become your family's go-to easy weeknight dinner in the cold months.
Servings 6
Equipment
Ingredients
For the soup base:
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 1 stalk celery finely diced
- 1 large carrot or 5-7 baby carrots finely diced
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper adjust pepper to ½ teaspoon if using Foolproof Chicken recipe
- 5 basil leaves directions below
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 qts chicken stock or more as needed
- 1 cup acini di pepe see note below
- 2 chicken breasts halves cooked and shredded; I used my Foolproof Chicken recipe
- ½ lemon
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese for garnishing
Instructions
- Mince the onions, celery, carrots, and garlic. Place in medium bowl.1 small onion, 1 stalk celery, 1 large carrot or 5-7 baby carrots, 2 cloves garlic , 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper
- Stack the basil leaves one on top of each other and roll into a long cylinder. Using a sharp knife, thinly slice the roll. Add to other minced veggies. Set aside and continue to the second step.5 basil leaves
- Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot. Add the veggies from step one and saute over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes.1 Tbsp olive oil
- Add the stock to the stockpot along with salt and pepper. Bring to a low boil.2 qts chicken stock
- Add the pasta to the pot and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the shredded chicken along with any broth if you used the foolproof chicken breast method. Cook until the pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes more.1 cup acini di pepe, 2 chicken breasts halves
- Squeeze some lemon in just before serving and sprinkle some grated romano on top. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if needed.freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ lemon
Notes
- Acini di pepe pasta is a small round rice-like pasta typically used in Italian wedding soup. We are using it since pastina has stopped being made. You can also use orzo or ditalini (but adjust the cooking time) as well.
- You might need to add more broth if you make the soup ahead or it sits a bit before serving. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
- Feel free to use a cooked rotisserie chicken.
How to shred chicken tip
For the easiest way to shred cooked chicken breasts, put the whole breasts in a stand mixer and using your paddle attachment, turn the mixer on to medium and shred to the perfect texture. Now wasn't that easy? Time saved and amazing results!